Safety door lock



Aug. 25, 1959 J- M. LASSITER SAFETY DOOR LOCK 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Nov. 30. 1956 INVENTQR.

s zter Aug. 25, 1959 J. M. LASSITER 2,901,053

7 SAFETY DOOR LOCK Filed Nov. 50, 1956 V 2 Sheets -Shet 2 INVENIOR.

I l M. Lisszter dam/W United States SAFETY DOOR LOCK John M. Lassiter, Sterling, Colo.

Application November 30, 1956, Serial No. 625,303

1 Claim. (Cl. 180-82) This invention relates to motor vehicle door locks particularly of the type provided for retaining doors in closed positions while a vehicle is in operation to prevent passengers being accidentally thrown from vehicles particularly in accidents, and in particular vacuum actuated lock bolts incorporated in door structures and designed to be snapped by springs to free positions in which the doors are unlocked with the gear shift lever in the neutral position, and wherein the vacuum of the engine of the vehicle is applied to the lock bolts to lock the doors when the gear shift lever is actuated to a driving position.

The purpose of this invention is to provide means for automatically locking doors of a motor vehicle as soon as a shift lever of the vehicle is actuated to a driving position.

Various types of locks have been provided for use on and in combination with the doors of a motor vehicle, however, such locks are manually operated or controlled by manual means and in critical circumstances it has been found that the locks have not been set or actuated to locking positions.

With this thought in mind this invention contemplates a safety motor vehicle door lock in which a lock bolt installed in a door and positioned to extend into the center post or wall of the vehicle is actuated by a vacuum cylinder which is connected to the intake manifold of the engine of the vehicle through a valve on the steering wheel post wherein upon shifting the transmission lever to a driving position, either forward or in reverse, the valve is actuated to apply the vacuum to the vacuum cylinders so that the doors are automatically locked as the lever is shifted to an operative position.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide safety locks for the doors of a motor vehicle in which the doors are automatically looked as soon as the gear shift lever of the vehicle is actuated to an operative position.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for locking the doors of a motor vehicle from the steering wheel post of the vehicle.

Another important object of the invention is to provide automatically actuated locks for the doors of motor vehicles in which the locks are applied as the gear shift lever of the vehicle is moved to an operative position in which the locks are adapted to be installed in vehicles now in use.

It is yet another object of the invention to provide safety locks for the doors of motor vehicles in which the locks are actuated by the vacuum of the vehicle engine.

A further object of the invention is to provide safety locks for the doors of a motor vehicle in which means is provided for preventing operation of the locks unless the doors of the vehicle are completely closed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide automatically operated safety locks for the doors of motor vehicles in which the locks are actuated by the vacuum of the engine of the vehicle through the gear shift lever in which the safety locks are of simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view the invention embodies lock bolts slidably mounted in doors of a motor vehicle and adapted to extend from edges of the doors and into sockets in the posts and sides of the vehicle body, vacuum cylinders also mounted in the doors and positioned to actuate the lock bolts, a. valve mounted on the steering wheel post of the vehicle and positioned to be actuated by the gear shift lever of the vehicle, tubes connecting the elements to the intake manifold of the engine, and a button actuated valve for preventing operation of the lock bolts until the doors are completely closed.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevational view of one of the vacuum cylinder and lock bolt units with part of the cylinder broken away to show a piston therein.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of a vehicle door latch plate taken on line 22 of Figure 1, and with the lock bolt shown in section.

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the intermediate portion of a motor vehicle, with the ends broken away, and with the improved door lock assembly shown in dotted lines.

Figure 4 is a plan view taken on line 44 of Figure 3 showing the mounting of the control valve on the steering wheel post.

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the control valve taken on line 55 of Figure 4, with the parts shown on an enlarged scale, and with the valve body shown in section.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through a button actuated valve which prevents the application of vacuum to cylinders of the lock bolts until doors of the vehicle are completely closed.

While one embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the above-referred-to drawings, it is to be understood that they are merely for the purpose of illustration and that various changes in construction may be resorted to in the course of manufacture in order that the invention may be utilized to the best advantage according to circumstances which map arise, without in any manner departing from the spirit and intention of the device, which is to be limited only in accordance with the appended claim. And while there is stated the primary field of utility of the invention, it remains obvious that it may be employed in any other capacity wherein it may be found applicable.

In the accompanying drawings and in the following specification, the same reference characters are used to designate the same parts and elements throughout, and in which the numeral 10 refers to the invention in its entirety, numeral 12 indicating a lock bolt slidably mounted in a sleeve 14, numeral 16 a cylinder having a piston 18 and a spring 20 therein, numeral 22 a piston rod extended from the inner end of the cylinder, numeral 24 a latch plate mounted in the wall or post of a vehicle and positioned to receive the lock bolt, numeral 26 a control valve body, and numeral 28 a button actuated safety valve body.

The lock bolt 12 extends through a face plate 30 from which a bushing 32 extends, and the face plate is also provided with a mounting plate 34 to Which the bushing is connected with a web 36 and upon which the sleeve 14 is mounted with bolts 38 on which nuts 40 and washers 42 are provided. The sleeve 14 is provided with oppositely disposed slots 44 having angularly positioned ends 46 and the lock bolt is provided with a pin 48 the ends of which extend through the slots 44 and into slots 50 in yokes 52 at the end of an arm 54 extended from the piston rod 22. The piston rod is provided with a stud 56 of reduced diameter forming a shoulder 58 against which the arm 54 is clamped by a nut 60 that is threaded 3 on the stud. The arm is provided with an opening 62 in which the stud is positioned.

The opposite end of the piston rod 22 is provided with a stud 64 on which discs 66 and-68, which hold theeup.

or leather Washers 70 and 72 of the piston 18, are. se.-.-

ouredb'y a nut 74, and'with the end of the. spring, 20 positioned in the Washer 72 the piston is-urged against the end'wall 76 of 'the cylinder 16 when the vacuum is.

relieved;

The cylinder 16 is provided with a cap or head 78 upon which a vacuum connection S'ttis positioned, and

the cylinder is retainedin position upon-the sleeve 14- slotsltlti in the latch plate 24, and'with the ends of thepin 98in the slots 96, as shown in Figure 1, thepin. is moved longitudinally as vacuum is applied to the cylinder 16, until the ends of the pin pass through the slots 100 in the latch plate, at which time the ends of the pin 48 reach the inclined portions of the slots 44, and as the ends of the pin travel inthe inclined portions 46' the lock bolt 12is rotated turning the pin 98through-- an angle of 90 and to the position indicated'by the dotted lines 102, in Figure 1. By this meansthe lock bolt'is secured in the latch plate 24 and in a wall or post irrwhich the latch plate is mounted. The latch plate24 is provided with bolt holes or openings 104 by which the:

plate is mounted in the-vehicle.

The body 26 of'th'e control valve is-Inounted on the steering wheel post 106 with a bracket 108 which is secured'to a clamp 110, flanges at the ends of which are provided with a bolt 112 which retains the clamp, bracket,

and valve in position upon the steering wheel post. The.

valve body 26 is provided with a valveelement orpiston 114 having a longitudinally positioned groove 116 in the-- periphery, and a transverse opening 118 which extends through the piston, as shown in Figure 5, and with the gear shift lever 120 in the neutral position-the opening 118'? is in registering relation with a nipple 122- that opens into the atmosphere and the vacuum is dissipated.

The piston 114'is provided with a piston rod 124 that extends through the end 126 of the cylinder and a pin- 128' on the extended end of the rod 124 is positioned ina slot 130 in the end of a lever 132 which is pivotallymounted on a pin 134 and which is provided with a fork 136 that is positioned over the gear shift lever 120. The valve body 26 is provided with an inlet nipple 138 from which'a tube 140 extends, and also a nipple 142frorn which" a tube 144 extends.

As shown in Figure 3, the tube 140, which extends from the inlet nipple 138, is connected to the intakernanifold'146 of the engine 148* of the vehicle, .and:the tube 144is connected by tubes 150' and 152 to button actuated safety: valves 28' in the edges of thedoors of the vehicle. The tube 152.is also provided with a connection. 154 that extends to the doors on the opposite side of the vehicle.

The valve body 28 is provided with a head 156 through which a passage 158 extends and the head is also provided'with a by-pass 160 which extends from a point 162spaced from one end of the passage 158 throughthe opposite side of the head. One end of the passage 158 is connected to one of the tubes 150 or 152. and the opposite end is connected by a tube 164 to the vacuum connection 80 of the cylinder 16 of thedoorin which the valve.28 is positioned;

The outer end of thewhead'156 of the. valve 28=is formed with a recess 166 in which a button .168isppsi- 4 tioned and a shaft 170 on the outer end of which the button is carried is provided with a passage 172which, with the button retracted, or in the recess, is in register ing relation with the passage 158 so that vacuum may pass through the valve; whereas with the button extended the shaft 170 closes the passage. The button is urged outwardly by a spring 174 which is positioned between an inner end 176 of the body 28 and a collar 178 secured, such as by welding, on the shaft. With a door open the button is urged outwardly by the spring 174, and as the door is closed the button, whichis mounted in the edge of the door, contacts the end surface of the vehicle wall, or the edge of the center post, and is moved inwardly to theposition shown in Figure 6. By this means it is impossible to apply vacuum to the cylinder 16 to actuate the lock bolt to a locking position until the door is completely closed with the button in the recess and the opening or passage 172 in registering rela' tion with the passage 158. The by-pass 160 provides ableeder for admitting air to the cylinder 16-when'the vacuum is relieved so that the spring 20 may retract the lock bolt. The outer end of the valve body 28 is provided with flanges-180 through which screws 182 for securing the valve in a door of a vehicle extend.

Operation With the parts assembled as illustrated and described the lock bolts, vacuum cylinders and button actuated safety valves are installed in the doors of a vehicle, as shown in Figure 3, with the latch plates 24 in the center posts and walls, and with the gear shift lever 120 in the neutral position, the lock bolts are withdrawn by the springs 20 and the doors may be opened and closed in the conventional manner; however, with the engine in operation, and with the gear shift lever moved in either direction the nipple 122 of the valve 26 is closed and the vacuum from the intake manifold is applied to the cylinders 16 whereby the pistons 13 are drawn to opposite ends of the cylinders, from the position shown in Figure 1, and. the lock bolts 12 are driven through the plates 30 and latch plates 24, as indicated by the dotted lines, also inFigure 1. vehicle arm locked while the vehicle is in gear, and as soon as the gear shift lever is returned to the neutral position the springs 20 return the pistons 18 and lock bolts 12 to the positions shown in full lines, in Figure 1, wherein the doors are unlocked.

From the foregoing specification, it will become apparent that the invention disclosed will adequately accomplish the functions for which it has been designed andin an economical manner, and that its simplicity,

accuracy, and ease of operation are such as to provide a relatively inexpensive device, considering what it will accomplish, and that it will find an important place in the art to which it appertains when once placed on-the market.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the-invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Changes in shape, size, and rearrangement of details and parts, such as come within the purview of the invention claimed may beresorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having now described the invention that which is claimed to benew and desired to be procured by Letters Patent, is:

In a motor vehicle door lock, the combination which comprises a sleeve having clamps extended therefrom, a lock bolt slidably mounted in said sleeve, 2. face plate having a bushing extended therefrom positioned with the bushing aligned 'with the sleeve, said sleeve and'bushing having slots therein and the slots of the sleeve having-inclined end sections, said lock bolt having pins therein By this means the doors of a post of a motor vehicle and adapted to be actuated by 10 the gear shift lever thereon, means for connecting one side of the control valve to a source of vacuum, means for connecting the opposite side of the control valve to the cylinder on the sleeve of the lock bolt, and

a button actuated valve in the connection from the con- 15 trol valve to the cylinder for preventing locking the door except when the door is completely closed, said device being adapted to be installed in. a door of a motor vehicle whereby upon moving the gear shift lever of the vehicle to an operative position the vacuum of the engine of the vehicle automatically actuates the lock bolts of the doors of the vehicle to locking positions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 534,987 Alsdorf Mar. 5, 1895 550,221 Euphrat Nov. 19, 1895 2,065,839 Toren Dec. 29, 1936 2,167,675 Palmer Aug. 1, 1939 2,472,915 Miller June 14, 1949 2,626,003 Kutzer Jan. 20, 1953 

